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Google has launched a dedicated Gemini desktop application for Windows, following its earlier macOS rollout, giving users a native app rather than relying solely on the browser. Users can summon Gemini with a keyboard shortcut, share their screen or local files for context-aware help, and connect the assistant to Gmail, Drive, Docs and Calendar.
Microsoft is testing a new Windows 11 recovery feature called Cloud Rebuild in Insider Beta Preview Build 26220.9343. It reinstalls Windows directly from Windows Update even when the existing installation is corrupted or won't boot, eliminating the need for a USB recovery drive. The tool is accessed through the Windows Recovery Environment, which can now also reuse saved Wi-Fi credentials to connect during recovery.
Windows Insider Beta Build 26220.9343 introduces Cloud Rebuild, a new recovery option that downloads a factory version of Windows 11 directly from Microsoft's servers instead of requiring a USB drive or custom image. The feature lives inside the Windows Recovery Environment under 'Reset this PC' and works over Ethernet or Wi-Fi, even restoring devices when the installed OS is too corrupted to boot normally.
Microsoft has patched a bug that stopped Teams and the new Outlook for Windows from launching on ARM-based devices like the Surface Pro 11 and Surface Laptop 7. The issue, triggered by August 2026 security updates (KB5121003), mainly hit new or freshly imaged PCs without Microsoft Store updates. The fix arrived with the September 8 cumulative update, KB5124012.
A technical analysis compares Microsoft's Prism binary translator, which lets x86-64 Windows software run on Arm-based aarch64 processors, against native Geekbench 7 performance. Using a pro key from Primate Labs founder John Poole to profile individual workloads, the tester measures how much performance is lost when translating x86-64 instructions instead of running aarch64 code directly.
Google has released a dedicated Gemini application for Windows PCs, accessible via an Alt+Space keyboard shortcut similar to its Mac counterpart launched earlier this year. The app connects with other Google AI tools including Gemini Spark, Gmail, Google Drive, Nano Banana, and Gemini Omni for image and video generation.
Developer Mayuki used Claude to vibe-code ReProgman, a lightweight clone of the classic Windows 3.1 Program Manager shell that ran until Windows 95 replaced it in the mid-1990s. The 12-16MB tool requires no installation, runs on both Windows 11 and Apple Silicon Macs via .NET SDK 10.0+, and has been published on GitHub under the MIT license.
Microsoft has fixed a bug introduced by the optional KB5120998 preview update that caused mouse cursor personalization settings to revert to defaults on some Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2 devices, particularly non-English installations. The company says the September 8 KB5124008 cumulative update resolves the issue and is urging affected users to install it, noting that uninstalling the buggy update did not restore settings.
Microsoft has resolved a bug that made desktop wallpapers turn solid black and reset mouse settings on Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2 devices. The issue stemmed from the KB5120998 preview update released in August 2026, and Microsoft says installing the KB5124008 update from September 8 fixes it.
Proofpoint identified an exploit toolkit, dubbed BlueMoon, that chains two Chromium vulnerabilities with a Windows kernel flaw to deploy malware on victims' machines. At least four separate hacking groups, some linked to the Chinese government, have deployed the kit within days of each other, and all three underlying vulnerabilities have only just received patches.
Microsoft is introducing new APIs in Windows 11 that let third-party apps check whether a user falls into a child, teen, or adult age category, without revealing the person's actual birthdate. Developers can use this signal to tailor content, features, or restrictions based on age group rather than requesting precise personal data.
Microsoft has shipped the September 2026 Patch Tuesday cumulative updates KB5124008 and KB5122880 for Windows 11 versions 25H2/24H2 and 23H2. The update patches roughly 1,000 vulnerabilities catalogued in recent months and is mandatory, installable via Windows Update or the Microsoft Update Catalog. Since 25H2 shares its codebase with 24H2, both versions receive identical fixes and features.